APOSTASY

APOSTASY, a deserting or abandoning of the true Religion. See RENEGADE. Among the Romanists, it also signifies the forsaking of a religious Order, whereof a Man had made Profession; without a lawful Dispensation. See ORDER, etc. The Ancients distinguished three kinds of apostasy: the first, a Supererogatione, is committed by a Priest or Religious, who abandons his Profession, and returns to his Lay State; the second, a Mandatis Dei, by a Person of any Condition, who abandons the Commands of God, though he retains his Faith; the third, a Fide, by him who not only abandons good Works, but also the Faith. There is this difference between an Apostate and an Heretic; that the latter only abandons a part of the Faith, whereas the former renounces the whole. See HERETIC. The Word is borrowed from the Latin Apostatare, to despise or violate anything. Hence Apostatare Leges, anciently signified to transgress the Laws. "Qui leges Apostabit terre sue, reus fit apud Regem. L. Edw. Confess." The Latin Apostatare, again, comes from the Greek ἀπό (apo), away, and ἵστημι (histēmi), I stand.

APOSTASY